Antiblotting ruler



(No Model.) J. P. BEARD.

ANTIBLD'ITING RULBR.

No. 564,141. Patented July 14, 1896.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH F. BEARD, OF MUSOATINE, IOIVA.

ANTIBLOTTING RU LER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 564,141, dated July 14, 1896.

Application filed April 24;, 1896. Serial No. 588,923. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OSEPH F. BEARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Muscatine, in the county of Muscatine and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Antiblotting Rulers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in combined rulers and blotters.

The invention consists of the combination, with a ruler, of a strip of absorbent material and means for removably securing the same over the entire under surface of the ruler, so that it extends in proximity to the ruling edge to prevent ink accumulating on said edge and blotting the paper.

It also consists of certain other novel constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts, all of which will be hereinafter more particularly set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure 1 represents a top plan view of my improved antiblot ruler. Fig. 2 represents a bottom plan View of the same. Fig. 3 represents a detail perspective view of one of the securing-clips, and Fig. 4 represents a detail perspective view of one end of the ruler.

A in the drawings represents the ruler, B the absorbent material or blotter, and O C the securing-clips.

The ruler may be of the ordinary brassedge construction having its forward edge beveled and with or without the graduating divisions and constructed of any suitable material.

The absorbent material B, which is preferably blotting-paper, is secured over the entire under surface of the ruler by the clips 0 C. These strips of absorbent material are previously prepared of a size corresponding to the width of the ruler and of a length greater than that of the ruler, so as to extend over the same and to be brought up over the ends of the ruler and clamped in positionon the upper surface of the same. Each of the clips 0 0 comprises a plate 0 of suitable material having a forwardly and downwardly extending projection c at one end and two longitudinal slots c c and a transverse slot.

c this latter slot extending across both the horizontal body portion of the plate and the projection c to within a short distance of the respective edges of the same. The projection c is bent down at an angle, so as to lie flatupon the beveled edge of the ruler. Each plate is adjustably secured to the top of the ruler by screws 0 that pass through the slots 0 0 the heads of said screws engaging the top of the plate.

When the absorbent material is to be applied to the ruler, one end is first slipped through the slot 0 of one of the securingclips from the under side and the clip then adjusted in place, clamping the blotter un der it. The blotter is then passed under the ruler and up over the opposite end and through the transverse slot 0 in the other clip. The end of the blotter is held in this latter slot and the plate slid longitudinally of the ruler to tighten the blotting-strip and clamp it in position. The transverse slots extend almost entirely across the ruler, and thus permit the blotting-paper to very nearly cover the entire under surface of the ruler and come close to the ruling edge. The blotter comes sufficiently near the ruling edge to absorb any ink that may attempt to accumulate in ruling, and thus prevents any blotting or smearing. The under surface of the ruler can also be placed upon a freshly-ruled line without smearing it.

I regard the construction of the clips with transverse slots which extend approximately to the front edge of the ruler as a very important feature of my invention, and much superior to clips which permit the blotter to extend only to the beginning of the bevel on the rule, as in such latter constructions the ruler can only be practically used as an ordinary blotter and not as an antiblotting ruler for bookers use, which will take up any surplus ink which may accumulate on the ruling edge of the ruler.

With my construction the ruler can be laid flat on the book and the ruling edge brought close to the work without any liability of blotting, which could not be done with rulers provided with absorbent material which terminated a considerable distance back of the ruling edge.

It will be observed that by means of the transverse slots, as above described, the absorbent material extends very near to the ruling edge, and is not cut or torn by the clips.

It will be observed that when it is desired to renew the absorbent material the old piece of absorbent material can be readily removed and a new piece secured in position, and this I regard a superior construction to absorbent material which is held in position by rivets or other permanent means.

Having now described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is-

1. The combination with a ruler having a front beveled edge, of a strip of absorbent material, and securing-clips for the ends of the absorbent material, bent to exactly conform to the uppersurface of the ruler and its front beveled edge, whereby the absorbent material is permitted to extend very close to the ruling edge, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a ruler, of a strip of absorbent material, and securing-clips for the ends of the absorbent material provided with slots for receiving said ends, and means for securing said clips to the ruler, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a ruler having a front beveled edge, of a strip of absorbent material, and clips for securing the same to the ruler; each clip comprising a plate having a forward projection bent at an angle thereto to fit the beveled portion of the ruler, and a transverse slot for receiving the end of the absorbent material, and longitudinal slots for its adjustment on the ruler, substantially as described.

4. An antiblotting ruler for bookkeepcrs use, comprising in its construction a body portion having a beveled edge, a clip on each end of said body portion; each clip comprising a plate having a forwardly and downwardly projecting end, and a transverse slotwhich extends across the plate and through the downwardly-projecting portion,said plate also provided with longitudinal guiding and adjusting slots, and pins working in said slots, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof 'I hereunto affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH F. EEARD. lVitnesses:

S. G. STEIN, II. D. IIoRsT. 

